Full Health Articles

Families often find themselves faced with the decision of when and if they should seek a full time residential care option for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Living at home is a suitable option for most people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly if they are in the company of a spouse or other caretaker. As the disease progresses, a number of factors can contribute to the need to move a loved one into a facility where he or she can be cared for by experts who are experienced with Alzheimer’s disease.

The determination of whether to move a loved one into a full time Alzheimer’s care facility is based on circumstances unique to each case. For instance, the caregiver may become ill and unable to care for his or her loved one with Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, the patient may begin to be awake much of the night, attempt to cook meals while the caregiver is asleep or wander outside unnoticed, potentially dangerous actions which may suggest the time is right to obtain professional care. The decision to seek full-time Alzheimer’s care can be a difficult one, but is in many cases the best option for both the caregiver and the patient.

The experience of moving a loved one into a full time care home is often more distressing to caregivers than it is to their loved one making the move. Caregivers are commonly faced with feelings of guilt, uncertainty and stress about the decision and the process of the move. If you are in this situation, such emotions are common but it is important to remember all of the sacrifices you have made to care for your loved one and that you are acting in the best interest of your loved one’s health and well being.

A question that often arises is whether you should inform your family member with Alzheimer’s disease that he or she is moving into a full time care home. This decision is largely a matter of personal preference, depending upon your family’s situation and the severity of your loved one’s disease. Some caregivers feel that it would be deceptive not to inform their loved one of the situation, while others feel that their loved one may not understand the situation and prefer not to discuss the matter beforehand. Regardless of whether you discuss the move with your loved one beforehand, do not intentionally mislead him or her by lying about where you are going. It is best to either honestly discuss the move or say nothing at all.

Make sure to bring along some of your loved one’s personal belongings to make the transition to his or her new home more comfortable. This may mean the linens from your loved one’s bed, photographs or whatever items you feel will help personalize his or her new room.

New residents of Alzheimer’s care homes sometimes protest the move, making the situation disheartening for their families. Resist the temptation to give in to your loved one’s objections. Though it may take some time, your loved one will adjust to his or her new home, surroundings and friends. During your visits, do things that your loved one enjoys. Simply taking a walk outside, eating together or listening to music can be calming and excellent for your own and your loved one’s well being.

Memory loss, no matter who the person suffering from it is, is hard to handle. If you’re an older woman, how you can overcome this problem is quite simple once you know how. You are about to discover one of the easiest ways to improve your memory literally instantly. The fun part is that it is a method you probably are already aware of but like many other people who suffer from memory loss, just are not doing it the most effective way.

What is The #1 Secret To Curing Memory Loss In Older Women?

When I was a young kid, I remember one of the most repeated phrases I regularly heard from my mom and also at school from my teachers was…“’Pay attention!”

I do not think these great teachers and influential people in my life knew it at the time, but they possessed the true secret to remembering all kinds of things from names, to dates, addresses e.t.c…

Are You Too Busy To Think?

Memory loss in older women is sometimes caused by being so busy your attention is off into so many different directions. What this does, the effect it has is that your mind has a hard time knowing where to focus. So what does it do? It takes the easy way and does not fully focus on anything.

The result of course is that you do not remember any of the details about things that you have been involved in. It is easy to attribute this to the effect of memory loss in older women but this is not true. Memory loss in older women can be both distressing and embarrassing but it does not need to be this way though. Keep reading to find out how to get over this problem

As an older woman, if you want to remember anything, a name, an address, a phone number e.t.c, you need to give it your full and focussed attention.

One Way To Cure Memory Loss If You Are An Older Woman

Imagine this scenario for a moment…

You are being introduced to someone for the first time. Here is how to ensure you remember everything you want to remember about them

1. You need to pay specific attention to THEM if you want to remember their NAME.
2. You must pay deliberate attention to their FACE if you want to RECOGNIZE them in future
3. Pay attention to their VOICE if you want to RECOGNIZE THEM WHEN THEY CALL you on the phone
4. Pay attention to their INTERESTS if you want to recall them in the future

Memory loss is something you can overcome by paying more attention! You need to focus your attention on the individual, the person you are meeting or talking to and not have your mind thinking about something else across the room, in another part of the home or at work.

Memory Loss - If You Are An Older Woman, You Don’t Have To Live With It Any More

Do you forget names of people you have met recently? These are normal changes but it is not a condition you have to live with.

Families often find themselves faced with the decision of when and if they should seek a full time residential care option for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Living at home is a suitable option for most people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly if they are in the company of a spouse or other caretaker. As the disease progresses, a number of factors can contribute to the need to move a loved one into a facility where he or she can be cared for by experts who are experienced with Alzheimer’s disease.

The determination of whether to move a loved one into a full time Alzheimer’s care facility is based on circumstances unique to each case. For instance, the caregiver may become ill and unable to care for his or her loved one with Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, the patient may begin to be awake much of the night, attempt to cook meals while the caregiver is asleep or wander outside unnoticed, potentially dangerous actions which may suggest the time is right to obtain professional care. The decision to seek full-time Alzheimer’s care can be a difficult one, but is in many cases the best option for both the caregiver and the patient.

The experience of moving a loved one into a full time care home is often more distressing to caregivers than it is to their loved one making the move. Caregivers are commonly faced with feelings of guilt, uncertainty and stress about the decision and the process of the move. If you are in this situation, such emotions are common but it is important to remember all of the sacrifices you have made to care for your loved one and that you are acting in the best interest of your loved one’s health and well being.

A question that often arises is whether you should inform your family member with Alzheimer’s disease that he or she is moving into a full time care home. This decision is largely a matter of personal preference, depending upon your family’s situation and the severity of your loved one’s disease. Some caregivers feel that it would be deceptive not to inform their loved one of the situation, while others feel that their loved one may not understand the situation and prefer not to discuss the matter beforehand. Regardless of whether you discuss the move with your loved one beforehand, do not intentionally mislead him or her by lying about where you are going. It is best to either honestly discuss the move or say nothing at all.

Make sure to bring along some of your loved one’s personal belongings to make the transition to his or her new home more comfortable. This may mean the linens from your loved one’s bed, photographs or whatever items you feel will help personalize his or her new room.

New residents of Alzheimer’s care homes sometimes protest the move, making the situation disheartening for their families. Resist the temptation to give in to your loved one’s objections. Though it may take some time, your loved one will adjust to his or her new home, surroundings and friends. During your visits, do things that your loved one enjoys. Simply taking a walk outside, eating together or listening to music can be calming and excellent for your own and your loved one’s well being.

If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you may initially feel overwhelmed with mixed emotions and filled with questions about what the diagnosis means for you. It is important to understand that you are not alone, that millions of people are in the same situation and that it is common for people who have been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease to feel fearful, frustrated or angry. On the other hand, you may be relieved to discover that the changes that have been taking place have a medical explanation and are not your fault. During this time, be honest with yourself and your loved ones about your feelings; just admitting your emotions can affect a sense of relief and put your loved ones in the best position to understanding and supporting you.

Upon being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, staying positive and focused on the activities you enjoy is important to your happiness and health. Also important to your health are eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise and taking any prescribed medications. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease find it helpful to remain focused on the activities that they can do, rather than worrying about those that may have become more challenging. Do not hesitate to seek assistance from others when needed, and accept their help graciously. If you do not understand or remember what a friend has said, be honest and ask him or her to repeat or explain. Maintain your social life with friends and family members and be open about the way you feel. Share helpful information about dementia with family members and friends so that they will gain a deeper understanding of your situation and be better able to accommodate your evolving needs.

Establishing a routine for your daily activities is a good way to keep track of when and how you go about your activities each day. Many people with Alzheimer’s find that writing down their thoughts, feelings and daily activities in a diary and referencing it regularly can be beneficial. Labeling the contents of cabinets and drawers around your home can be a great reminder that will help you take care of yourself and contribute to your independence. Designate a specific place for important items such as your keys, glasses, medications and money, and develop a habit of always returning them to that place.

Many people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones obtain great benefits from support groups, which you may attend either in person or online. Your local Alzheimer’s Association is a good place to begin finding resources that point you in the right direction. Everyone is affected differently by Alzheimer’s disease, so you will develop your own ways of adapting to the changes that are taking place. Being honest with yourself and loved ones about your emotions, maintaining independence as much as you can but asking for help when you need it and keeping your sense of humor will go a long way to making the years ahead the best they can be.

Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, may be prove to be a potent weapon in the battle against Alzheimer’s.

Fights Amyloid-Beta Peptides

A study has shown that it lowers levels of the amyloid-beta peptides, which are responsible for the plaques leading to Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists administered resveratrol to cellsthat produce human amyloid-beta; they found that levels of amyloid-beta in the treated cells dropped significantly.

Further Research Needed

It is uncertain, however, if simply eating a resveratrol-rich diet will have the same effect; follow-up research is therefore being conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms that resveratrol triggers to fight Alzheimer’s. The compound may act by stimulating the proteasome, a multi-protein complex that can digest other proteins.

Could Fight Other Diseases

Resveratrol may also be effective in fighting other human amyloid-related diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases. It can, for example, protect neurons against amyloid-like polyglutamines, which accompany Huntington’s disease.

Journal of Biological Chemistry November 11, 2005; 280(45): 37377-37382 Science Daily November 4, 2005

Dr. Mercola’s Comment:I’ve been telling you about resveratrol, the natural polyphenol found in grapes, peanuts, berries and red wine that fights cancer, for quite a while now. It always amazes me how science continues to uncover more and more benefits of simple natural whole food products.

While alcoholic beverageshave some benefit they are not your best source of these beneficial nutrients. If you want to boost your consumption of resveratrol, stick with natural sources like whole grape skins (pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a lot of extra fructose).

Although red wine also contains resveratrol, and many health experts feel it is fine in moderation, I am not so certain about this. This is largely because I am convinced the alcohol itself is actually a neurotoxin, which means it can poison your brain. Additionally, it has the strong potential to seriously disrupt your delicate hormone balance.

Alzheimer’s is serious business and we are in the midst of an Alzheimer’s epidemic. Grape skins that have reservatrol are useful but only a small part of a Total Health apporach to reduce all chronic illness. I also urge you to review my recent guidelines that can protect you from Alzheimer’s without taking a drug:

*Follow the nutrition plan paying special attention to avoiding sugar
*Eat plenty of high-quality omega-3 fish oil
*Avoid most fish and remove mercury
*Exercise for three to five hours per week
*Eat a nutritious diet based on your body’s unique metabolic type
*Eat plenty of vegetables (also according to your metabolic type)
*Avoid flu vaccinations
*Try Wild Blueberry IQ, an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases
*Keep your mind active
*Since worry accelerates your risk of Alzheimer’s, learn an effective energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique

Zinc is one of those minerals that have been discovered necessary to hold off the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Most older people and those with dementia and other mental disorders have been found to be deficient in zinc. In most studies zinc has been shown to improve mental capacity in elders.

To get zinc into your blood stream you need to have a specific acid that is excreted by the pancreas. This acid is called “picolinic acid” When food containing zinc or zinc supplements reaches the small intestine, duodenum, the pancreas excretes picolinic acid. This acid binds with zinc and moves it across your intestine wall and into the blood stream.

Picolinic acid is created in the liver and kidneys from the amino acid tryptoph. This amino acid then moves into the pancreas. If you have diabetes or if your pancreas is overworked or weak, you will not be excreting enough picolinic acid and will not be providing enough zinc to your brain. You will need to supplement your diet with zinc.

The type of zinc you need is one that is bound with picolinic acid. This type is called “zinc picolinate.” There are other type of zinc supplements such as zinc citrate and zinc gluconate, but there are not absorb as good as zinc picolinate. If you cannot get zinc picolinate then the next best is zinc gluconate.

The body has many uses for zinc and this can contribute to a deficiency of zinc in the blood for the brain. The body uses zinc for helping,

* in chemical reactions with enzymes
* with antioxidants to prevent arteriosclerosis
* with DNA to prevent dementia or Alzheimer’
* with cells activity
* kidneys to maintain acid base balance.
* with carbon dioxide removal
* make pancreatic enzymes
* your liver to detoxify alcohols
* and the list goes on and on

Here are some of the foods to add to your diet to get more zinc: beef, lamb, cheese, yeasts, oysters, Shrimp, herring, sunflower seeds, bumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, wheat germ & bran, mushrooms, spinach, squash, asparagus, collard greens, broccoli ,chard, miso, maple syrup.

Zinc can be toxic in excessive amounts. A safe amount to take is 20 - 25 mg per day. Do not take more than 40 mg per day. Toxic effects are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea.

Add these foods and zinc picolinate to your diet in an effort to starve off dementia and Alzheimer’s. There are a few more special nutrients that you should include in your diet to prevent degradation of your mental thinking.

Memory loss may affect us with greater frequency, as we get older. A certain amount of memory loss is to be expected. But there is a big difference between the normal forgetfulness that comes with aging and debilitating mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Most people forget where they placed their keys from time to time or the name of a recent acquaintance. These minor lapses in memory are normal and may be, to some degree age-related.

But age-related memory loss doesn’t prevent you from living a full life. People with memory loss due to more serious conditions than the normal memory loss mentioned above, find that the memory loss is actually interfering with their ability to go about their life, normally and affects their quality of life.

With normal memory loss those affected frequently have a good- natured attitude to about it and may even joke about their inability to remember. People with more serious memory problems may have the felling that something is not quite right and may actually try to hide their symptoms.

Age related memory loss usually remains pretty stable after its initial onset, unlike the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s which tends to get worse over time.

Some additional signs of Alzheimer’s disease may include, asking the same question multiple times after receiving an initial answer; inappropriate use of words; inability to follow a recipe, or other steps to completing a task; becoming lost while driving or walking on familiar streets. In additions, sudden mood or behavior changes for no apparent reasons, may signal that something is not right.

It is important to seek medical attention, quickly if you experience any of these symptoms. These symptoms can be indicative of conditions other than Alzheimer’s; conditions that are reversible and treatable if diagnosed in time. Even Alzheimer’s disease responds to some treatments and the prognosis is better for those who seek medical treatment for the disease, than those who don’t.

Between the normal experience of forgetfulness that comes with aging and Alzheimer’s is a transitional stage called Mild Cognitive Impairment of MCI.

While MCI can affect many areas of cognition or thinking. Researchers find that it affects memory most often. The number of people with MCI in the general over 65 non-demented population is not known but some believe it may be as high as 20 percent.

Again, as with Alzheimer’s, memory loss which goes beyond the normal range, may signal MCI. The criteria for a diagnosis of amnesia MCI are similar to Alzheimer’s disease, just not as severe and with the absence of dementia.

So, what can you do to prevent memory loss and keep your mind sharp? Below are a few of the things that are shown to help you keep your wits about you:

Stimulating activities: Either a job that is mentally challenging or learning new skills, such as learning to play a musical instrument.

Stay physically fit: Research shows that higher physical activity correlates to lower mental decline. Exercise also helps us feel more energetic and alert.

Eat healthy: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and lower in fats and empty carbohydrates provide us with antioxidants which may help prevent cholesterol from damaging the inner lining of our arteries, which slow the flow of blood to our brains.

Drink alcohol in moderation: People who drink heavily for years can experience permanent brain damage and are at higher risk for dementia than non-drinkers and those who drink moderately.

Good Supplementation: Some herbs along with vitamins B12 and vitamin C have recently been shown to be effective in promoting good mental health and functioning. It is important to be sure that you get the proper concentration and dosage when using vitamins. This is sometimes easier said than done.

To be sure that you are getting the proper combination of vitamins, herbs and minerals to promote good brain functioning you may want to try Neurovarâ„¢.

Neurovarâ„¢ is an all natural and safe formula using clinically substantiated ingredients aiding overall cognitive function. Neurovarâ„¢ we hear is an all natural and safe formula using clinically substantiated ingredients aiding overall cognitive function. Its makers purport that it is the complete brain function formula and is available today to help support both brain function and protection of cerebral health.